New paper led by my PhD student, Coen Wilson: Why large Flakes? Later Acheulian handaxe manufacture at Amanzi Springs, Area 2 (Eastern Cape, South Africa)

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

La Trobe University Archaeology student Sarah with her first handaxe from Amanzi Springs Area 1, in layers we now believe to be older than 400,000 years.

Amanzi Springs can be a cruel and unpredictable site. In the right hand corner is the edge of Deacon’s 1960s trench where he seemingly found no archaeology. In the top right is our current excavation, with artefacts 30cm below the surface. Just under our feet the whole time.

One of the large cutting tools we just recovered from a new layer, >400,000 years old, at Amanzi Springs Area 1 in South Africa.

La Trobe Archaeology student Jaz with her first handaxe discovery from Amanzi Springs Area 1 in South Africa. This central layer has actually been interesting for yielding lots of small flaking debris, and wood, but glad the students finally also got to excavate an Acheulian icon as well.

The floor of Acheulian artefacts we are getting close to lifting from Amanzi Springs Area 7 in South Africa. They are older than 400,000 years old.

One of the many large cutting tools we lifted today from the >400 ka levels at Amanzi Springs Area 7 in South Africa.

400,000 (MIS 11) wood associated with Acheulian stone tools being excavated from Amanzi Springs Area 7 in South Africa by La Trobe Univetsity and the University of Johannesburg